Venue changes affect parking during this week's Special Olympics

Several thousand athletes, volunteers and spectators will visit campus Thursday-Saturday, May 25-27, for the annual Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games. Campus parking lot closures have been adjusted to accommodate construction projects and venue changes. Expect more traffic in and around the Iowa State Center's north lots.

Check-in for volunteers, athletes and teams moves to the Scheman Building, which also serves as the transportation hub for free shuttle service to most competition venues. The Scheman courtyard will host the Olympic festival activities, sports clinics and food trucks. Souvenir sales and free health screenings for athletes will be available inside Scheman. 

The cycling competition will move from the Iowa State Center parking lots to the lots west of the Cyclone Sports Complex, while tennis will move from the Forker courts to the Ames High School sports complex (2005 24th St.). 

Beyer Hall (swimming), Lied Recreation Center (track and field), Forker Building (developmental events) and Hilton Coliseum (Thursday night opening ceremony and Friday night dance) again will serve as competition venues, along with the recreation fields east of Lied and Maple Willow Larch (soccer, bocce, track and field). The MWL commons, dining and residence halls also will be open to Special Olympics participants staying overnight.

Road and lot closures

On Thursday and Friday (7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily), Beach Road will be closed to through traffic between Lincoln Way and the south driveway to the power plant. 

Numerous parking lots will be closed to ISU permit holders during the summer games, including:

  • Lots 61A and 61B (west of Cyclone Sports Complex), Thursday (all day): Closed to all vehicles, designated site for cycling events

  • Lot 6 (west of Sukup Hall), Friday (all day): Reserved for ISU reserved permits and summer games participants with disabled parking permits

  • Lot 7 (west of Thielen Student Health), Friday (all day): Reserved for ISU reserve permits and summer games participants with disabled parking permits

  • Lot 50A (west of Forker), Thursday and Friday (all day): Reserved for ISU reserve permits and summer games participants with disabled parking permits

  • Lot 57 (west of Lied Recreation), Thursday and Friday (all day): Closed to all ISU parking permits, reserved for vehicles with special permits.

  • Lot 100 (south of Lied Recreation), Thursday, Friday and Saturday (all day): Closed to all vehicles, designated site for Special Olympics activities. In addition, some sections of Lot 100 will close Tuesday and Wednesday for event set-up.

  • Additional lot closures for Special Olympics functions or safety considerations, Thursday and Friday (all day): Lots 54, 54A, 56, 63, 66, 67, 80, 82, 83, 89, 90 and 91.